“Has it always been like this?” I ask, carefully keeping my voice low. They might know who he is and this is his territory, but Baris is private. I won’t share his secrets—the little that I carry.
“The trees? No.” He shakes his head, black hair falling along his shoulders. “This place has always been full of life. Dark leaves, fruitful trees. The trees planted behind the cottage were seeds from home. It’s always been full of life.” He drops his hands, shoulder drooping. “When my kingdom fell to the sleeping curse, everything fell, it seems.”
He glances back to Reid, who gently places on flower into the bag on Mal’s hip. “But it will awaken. When the true ruler takes over.”
Whenever that is. We have a lot to figure out when it concerns Reid and the young Fae is not ready to learn of his true path.
The second flower is plucked and the knot of worry in my chest starts to unravel. We’re getting closer to saving Kaden. We can do this.
“Max,” Baris says, licking his lips. “These flowers might bring ruin instead of love.”
“How will I know?” I whisper. I’m sure Mal doesn’t need to hear of our suspicions over his mother.
“She can’t kill you,” he reminds me. “Not without killing Kaden. And she won’t do that. But she will make it difficult for you to succeed. Every obstacle, every challenge, is a test. I still don’t think it’s necessary for the king, but given to you as a labor.”
“Because she doesn’t trust me?”
“Because of Kaden,” he says, shrugging. “You will see when you return. If you are to save Kaden, you will have to play her games.”
“And if they’re not games, but she actually is helping us?”
He scoffs. “That is not Aoife’s style.”
The third flower goes into the bag and the Fae stand, pointing out features around them.
Rubbing my brow, I nod. “Fine. Then why don’t you come with us? With your insight, you could help us see things?—”
“I can’t,” he stresses. Gently, he pulls my hood over my head, tucking my hair back. Oddly, it’s feels familiar, like a tic he’s done my entire life. “Aoife tolerates you because she thinks you are simply Kaden’s mate. If she knew who you were—in this world, to me, you would not survive. But if you need me, send a hawk. I will be there.”
Reid stops at my side, hands dirty and a beaming grin on his face. Hope radiates off of him, and my heart soars. It’s been too long since I’ve seen that spark. “Ready, Dark Queen?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him why he could enter—what this means for him.
But I snap my mouth shut. We have too many things to worry about, and if I add this onto his shoulders, he might not appreciate the destiny he was handed. He should embrace it.
Right now, Kaden is our united concern. When it is over, he’ll know what I do. And I can only hope it won’t hurt him.
“Return to the Veridian Palace,” my father commands, “but remember what I said.”
Impulsively, I rush forward and throw my arms around Baris’ neck. It’s the first hug I’ve initiated, the first time I’ve allowed myself to believe.
It could also be my last, his warning about Aoife clear in my mind. All of this could help Kaden—or be a waste. I have to be vigilant and make the right choices.
Everything in me wants to save my mate. To rush out there, consequences be damned.
But I can’t. I won’t risk running into danger when Kaden’s life—and the world’s—rest with me. I have to think. I have to be the queen the Shadowlands needs.
Baris gently wraps his arms around me and presses a light kiss to my temple. “This is your fate, little one. Believe in yourself and you will succeed.”
He departs, returning to the cottage with barely a grunt as Mal warns him of Kaden’s return. My father seems to think Kaden is only drawn to me. Without me there, Baris will remain undetected.
We trudge through the forest on foot, stopping only to take quick breaks. It’s long without the horses, but we don’t stop. Not until the sun rises and the castle appears in the background.
Mal leads the way this time. I don’t bother to catch a guard’s eye—I’m not here for them. At the throne room, we drop the sack of roses on to the middle of the golden tile, Aoife in her chair, Fenrir beside her.
And she looksmad.
“How?” she growls and I step forward. Everything is telling me not to disclose Reid’s connection to the barrier. She might exploit it—or she’ll kill for it. Aoife can go either way.
